In quiet rooms in the James Madison, Lyman Briggs and the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities a group of people meet once a week to discuss important issues that are often controversial in society. Michigan State’s 21st-Century Chautauqua members involve both professors and students from the three residential colleges, as well as the Honors College. However it is not restricted to these students. Everyone is welcome.

The word Chautauqua originally derived from a nineteenth century program on the shores of Lake Chautauqua in upstate New York. This program would bring educational speakers and performers together for the families that happened to be vacationing on the shores of the lake. As time progressed the term has become a synonym for any public forum created for discussing current cultural and scientific issues in the world. Michigan State’s Chautauqua considers itself to be a travelling version of the original since it meets in different rooms and buildings each week.

Three years ago Michigan State, along with seventeen other colleges and universities applied and received a grant from the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) to organize the 21 Century Chautauqua.

“It was created to explore social responsibility through dialogue. A mechanism to help students think and understand views of others who might disagree with them.” explained Steve Esquith, Dean of the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities.

The current topic for the semester’s Chautauqua generates quite a bit of heated debate. The topic is Race, Justice and Equality. It focuses specifically on how different racial and ethnic groups are rewarded or receive better opportunity in the United States. Currently the Chautauqua is using film as a way to look deeper into this topic. In the past they had faculty presenters.

Besides engaging in heated dialogues; the 21 Century Chautauqua works on different projects simultaneously.  Current projects include a Film Series presented every Tuesday night at Snyder-Phillips’ Auditorium. Here people can watch movies, such as Spike Lee’s Malcolm X, and stay for a discussion afterwards; as well as a blog online to continue discussions held in meetings. This year the 21 Century Chautauqua has also been involved with the events held on Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. This included a march commemorating his work along with moderating a discussion panel. For the next academic school year, the group hopes to incorporate more films as well as working with artists in residence in collaboration with the Wharton Centre and the films studies program.

Through the employing of films, discussions, presentations and activities it is hoped that the community of Michigan State may develop a deeper understanding of social and cultural similarities and differences.  As a result we may become more knowledgeable of each other.  Further we may become stewards of this awareness and cultivate a sense of social responsibility.